Hey everyone,
READ THIS AN! IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE REST OF THE STORY! PLEASE READ THIS AN!Sorry that I put such a bit of text at the start of the chapter, but it really is quite important. First of all the whole story has been EDITED! Parts have been added, parts have been fixed, grammar errors have been fixed and little things here and there that just didn't fit have been taken out.
Also, this story is now – more or less – working alongside the KH canon, in that the brilliant story of KH III has been added into the back story of Sora and Riku and I have a more clear vision on all of the characters that they know – ex. Kairi, Naminé, Lea, Roxas and others. You can find evidence of this all throughout the story now.
However, these edits will not count for every KH story that I have. Here are the stories it will/might count for: To Read And To View (obviously), To Read Into The Universe, Preventing Trouble (but only up to a certain point as I won't re-edit that story AGAIN) Venquine Mates (I think), A New Era (maybe), The Strong Side Of Darkness (maybe).
This means that KH 3 is not going to count for the Light Series or the Never They Cannot series and personally, I'm quite alright with this. I also want you all to know that there is a VERY IMPORTANT poll on my account, one that I would like you all to vote on before the June update. I have already voted and so has one other and I hope many more of you will too. And I also want you all to know that To Read Into The Universe will probably be edited in March.
There, that's all,
Venquine1990
PS. Only Preventing and Universe are assured to get any editing done this year, though I also plan to do a few others, such as Destiny's Saying and Fate's Finale.
Chapter 49
Jessica's Test
31st of January 1996
Destiny's Haven
Jessica's POV
"Can I – can I ask you guys something?" I ask after Sora and Riku have let go off each other and we've returned to our seats in the Video room and the others turn to nod at me as I whisper: "Do you – is it possible – am I changing too quickly?" My brother and his mate look at me befuddled and confused, but dad smiles and confidently says: "No." Shocking me as I can't understand why he feels so sure about this.
"Sweetie, you're not changing. You're opening up your heart. You're letting the real you show itself to the world. These traits of you, the traits that show what you like, what you believe in, what you're willing to fight for, they've always been part of you. There are just always bits of these parts of you – or in some cases, situations or people – that make you fear that you can't show them.
You said so yourself a few minutes ago. You've become more willing to be open about yourself and others. Of course, you have often voiced your opinion about others – your friendship with Ron and Hermione, your annoyance with Malfoy, etc. – but you've also often kept certain comments, beliefs or aspects of yourself a secret, because you feared that others might not like you anymore."
He then turns to Sora and says: "That's why it's so great that Sora is your brother. He's so easy going and accepts you, no matter what. You could be in Slytherin, in love with Malfoy and pregnant of either Crabbe or Goyle's kid – I'm just saying, it's just an example." The man yells in the end as I have been screeching in disgust the minute he spoke of Malfoy.
Sora and Riku laugh hard and Sora says: "Dad is right, though. Even if that example ever became reality – and may Kingdom Hearts have mercy on their souls and protect those from Lea's wrath if that ever happened – it wouldn't matter to me. That is, it wouldn't matter, unless any of them took advantage of that and hurt you. Then it would matter, because then I would worry for you. But anything that makes you happy, I'm cool with."
"Exactly. See sweetie, you have nothing to worry about." I sigh in relief at this and mumble a grateful word at them all before I angrily glare at dad and say: "And next time, keep that imagination to a minimum when you want to make an example, will you dad? Ugh!" The man laughs again and Riku says: "Let's keep watching." And he presses the button, turning on the movie.
It shows Sora, Donald and Goofy standing in the store that Cid formally worked in and the three of them heading out and into the other store, buying more Hi-Potions and a few tents and ethers from Louie before leaving the town all together and boarding the Gummi ship. We then see Chip reminding them of the tournament and Sora says: "We should go. We could use the training."
At this Donald wants to object, but Goofy agrees and says: "Yeah, we don't want to run into another Heartless like that Armored one.""But we already got stronger." Donald tries, but Sora says: "Doesn't matter. Just warp to the Coliseum. Besides, they did say that there is some kind of prize for the winner. Don't you want to know what that is?" And just like I expected does this convince the duck.
The warping is shown and it looks incredible as it shows the Gummi Ship going from the lower left corner of the screen into the upper right, with an entire lightshow showing that they are indeed traveling at an amazing amount of speed, much and much faster than they did before. And this form of travel even makes them avoid all of the Heartless they encountered on their previous trip.
"Warping makes you completely evade the Heartless? That is – just amazing!" I squeal in relieved excitement and my brother smiles at me as Sora arrives at the world and heads into the Coliseum, meeting Phil and Hercules at the antechamber. Both are happy to see the three of them and Phil's smirk widens even when Sora tells them why they're here.
"Good to hear. You know the rules, right? Good! Now, you rookies ready for the Phil Cup?" And while Donald grumbles at the term Phil uses for them, do Goofy and Sora give the Satyr a confident nod. And yet, as they go through each and every round of the Tournament, do I grimace a little as it's quite obvious that, if they wanted to use this cup for training, they should have come sooner, preferably before the boss.
Yet this does nothing to the team's moral or excitement as they, again, let out their own respective cheers of We did it, For Daisy and That's the power of the Keyblade whenever they win another round, Sora being the one to make his exclamation after they take out the arms and legs of the Armor Boss not once but twice and even battle the torso itself as well, alongside an array of other Heartless such as the Green Requiems and the Monkey ones.
The Torso, alongside a bunch of Yellow Opera's and Blue Rhapsody's, turns out to be their last opponent and Donald and Goofy make quick work of the Opera's and the Rhapsody's while Sora puts his full focus on the Torso, actually using his new Wind ability to keep the damage of the twirling Heartless to a minimum and using the Cure ability at all the right times. They win the round and head for the top of the stands.
There Donald and Goofy look on as Sora raises the Jungle King Keyblade into the air and happily yells: "We're the Champs!" Confetti raining down on the three of them. Yet then Sora seems to spot a bunch of stars shining alongside the confetti and focuses on them as he mutters: "Force." And this actually pushes the confetti to fall down even faster.
"You're learning one new skill after another." I state in awe and dad nods as he says: "Good, because if that last boss was anything to go by, you're going to need it." And my brother actually nods at this before we focus back on the movie. The movie itself returns Sora, Donald and Goofy back into the Antechamber, where Phil and Hercules are.
"I never thought you'd do it. Not bad." Phil mutters yet Hercules laughs and says: "Phil, you're just as stubborn as ever. Don't pretend you're not happy for them." And while they had both been standing with their arms crossed, does Phil uncross his arms and take on an angry pose as he says: "Ahem! Now kid, you've still got a long way to go. The next round's startin' soon. Next time it'll be the real thing." And he retreats back into the coliseum.
Sora, Donald and Goofy quickly step onto the safe point to get back the little bit of health that Sora was unable to cure at the end of the last round and then return to the Gummi ship. "Next time there's a tournament, we're going straight there. Even if we have other plans, those'll have to wait." Sora says and Donald grumbles: "I knew this one would be a waste of time."
"Yeah, yeah, let's just go. Cid installed that new Navi Gummi, so let's use it. Let's see where it leads." Sora retorts and Donald humphs before he takes the steering wheel. And while it, at first, looks like he's flying back to Deep Jungle, do I then spot it. A portal – one that would resemble a black hole if not for its colors – is on the route between the two worlds and Goofy says: "Look, we have to go that way!" And Donald hits the acceleration as he plunges the Gummi ship into the hole.
Instantly he quacks: "SORA, FIRE!" As the entrance to the new route alone is covered in huge meteorites and various Heartless ships that fly at them. Sora instantly starts shooting and Donald starts weaving them past most of the meteorites, Sora managing to shoot some of them to pieces. And when he does, does Goofy shout: "Look, that's a blueprint to a new Gummi ship model."
And he himself actually uses a different steering device to have a remote control arm extend itself from the bottom of the Gummi ship and grab the blue print. "Good going, Goofy. Sora, keep shooting those meteorites. If we can gather more blueprints, we can get better ships." Donald advices, before quacking again as he almost drives the ship into an approaching Heartless, one Sora shoots into destruction a second later. "And keep shooting!" Donald yells afterwards.
Sora rolls his eyes, but does as instructed and the ship safely flies its way through the new route, me personally glad that they now have the Warp Gummi as it means they will have to take less dangerous trips like this once they have reached the new set of worlds. And while I try not to, do I find myself wondering if Sora will reach my mate's homeworld in this journey or another.
Shaking my head as I feel I should give my family the attention they deserve and that I should just be happy with the time I got with Lea – especially seeing how brilliant last night went – do I try to keep my focus on the movie in front of me. And when the Gummi ship approaches the new world, does its exterior fill me with a mixed sense of excitement and concern.
"Aladdin's world; Agrabah. Pro, it probably has the Genie in it and even Jafar is no match for him, let alone Aladdin's actual wit and smarts. Con, it has the most powerful – bar Maleficent – sorcerer in the Disney franchise in it, one who has an ego that can match both his intelligence and his drive to see his desires fulfilled. I'll just – I'll just have to wait and see and hope for the best."
And while I push down on that quiet little voice that whispers: "If only Lea was with them. They'd be much safer with him around." Do I instantly tense up as the first thing the movie shows of the new world is the market place – with Maleficent and Jafar traversing through it together, the two of them deep in some kind of conversation. The title card of the world also shows itself, coming out of the lamp, but doing nothing to lessen my concern.
"And the Keyhole?" Maleficent asks and Jafar answers: "The Heartless are searching for it now. I'm certain we'll find it soon enough. So that just leaves …" The camera had panned from the side of Maleficent's face to a shot of both their faces to a shot from above. And at this last one does a huge red parrot fly down, landing on Jafar's shoulder and speaking in a squeaky voice:
"Jafar! I've looked everywhere for Jasmine. She's disappeared like magic." Jafar huffs at this and growls: "The girl is more trouble than she's worth.""You said you had things under control." Maleficent admonishes the vizier, who retorts in annoyance: "Agrabah is full of holes for rats to hide in. But why worry for Princess Jasmine? With her or without her, surely this world will be ours when we find the Keyhole."
"We need all seven princesses of heart to open the final door. Any fewer is useless." Maleficent explains to the man, who assures her: "Well, if the princess is that important, we'll find her." Several new Heartless, that actually look like they could pose for regular bandits in the city, then appear behind the man, who orders them: "Find Jasmine and bring her to me at once."
The group of Heartless scurries out of the market place, the parrot guiding them from above as Jafar slowly follows after. "Don't steep yourself in darkness too long." Maleficent then warns the man and goes on: "The Heartless consume the careless." This reminds me of what happened with Clayton and I silently hope the same will happen to Jafar as the man snickers and says:
"Your concern is touching, but hardly necessary." Then, to the shock of my father and me, does the camera turn to Maleficent's face, yet it also shows what goes on behind her. And hidden in a market stall just to the right of the woman, in the wall behind the witch, there is a young woman that, to me, looks quite familiar. The princess hides herself away and looks thoughtful.
"She was there? Jasmine was right there and they didn't even see her? Well, at least now she knows to be careful and avoid that lot." I think to myself, yet then remember something else; the meeting between Riku and Maleficent in Traverse Town. This makes me look at the boy in grave concern and I think: "I really hope he'll realize his folly before it's too late."
The movie restarts itself and shows Sora, who is instantly accosted by the bandit Heartless as well as the usual Shadow Heartless. The team quickly make work of these Heartless, the swords of the bandits only hurting them every so often, but their own elemental attacks obviously stronger and knocking all of them out. Yet as they traverse through town, do they also encounter Heartless that are nothing more than pots with spindly legs sticking out.
The trio manage to get to the center of town and take a right, finding a pole that goes up that they climb. And the home that they find themselves in, even if it's by daylight instead of sunset or nighttime is one I instantly recognize from the movie. But then I spot the carpet that is stuck under a large box that Sora frees and this confuses me.
"Wait, Aladdin didn't find that until after his home was raided. So at which point in the movie does this all take place? Jafar is obviously not after Jasmine for the title of sultan, but if it weren't for Maleficent he wouldn't have been interested in her at all." I then watch Sora leave the house again and head into an alley on the left of the main plaza. And here, hiding behind a couple of boxes, he spots Jasmine, who tentatively asks: "Who's there? Hello?"
The young princess leaves her hiding space and dad's eyes widen at the sight of her skimpy bra and pants outfit at which I try not to giggle as I remember aunt Lily, Angelina and I talking about this when I showed off the same outfit myself. "I'm Jasmine. My father is the Sultan of Agrabah." Jasmine tells the group and Goofy says: "Uh … So that makes you a princess." And then Jasmine says something that just confuses and concerns me even more.
"But he has been deposed by Jafar, who now controls the city.""Great, looks like this is another case where Disney saw the events, but decided to create his own story out of it all." I mutter and dad asks: "Another one where you can't quite point the similarities between this world and the plot of the movie?" I shake my head and say: "It looks like Disney mixed up the events in a different order to make his own movie out of this one.
Oh no, wait, I forgot. Disney died in 1966. That must be the work of those who continued working in his name, to honor the masterpieces he's been making since 1937." The man's eyes widen and he asks: "His company has been making these movies for almost 30 years after his passing? Now that's some dedication to his work." I nod and mutter: "Wonder what else of the movie I'll find in this world." And I focus back on this movie.
Goofy asks about the vizier's name and Jasmine answers: "You haven't heard of him? He's the royal vizier. He's gained evil powers and seized Agrabah. He's desperately looking for something – something he calls the Keyhole. Jafar caught me trying to escape, but he helped me." And even before Sora can ask her who helped her, do I already know the answer.
This makes me smile in relief as I had been slightly worried that Jafar – or perhaps Maleficent – had taken out Aladdin in their need for Jasmine, but the knowledge that this world's Aladdin is just like the movie – and probably in love with Jasmine too – has me sigh in relief as Jasmine continues her explanation. "We were hiding nearby, but he left a while ago to take care of something … Oh, I hope Aladdin's alright."
And yet these seem to be the wrong words to say as suddenly that slimy voice speaks again and Jafar makes his presence known. "Aladdin? Where might I find this streetrat?""What does that mean?" dad asks and I sigh as I say: "Aladdin is – more or less – like me. His mother died when he was young and he probably believes that his father is dead too. He isn't, though."
"Wait, he's not?" My brother asks shocked and I look just as shocked back at him as I think: "Guess either Aladdin never found out while they were around or he never told them." I shake my head and say: "I'll explain after." My brother nods and the movie goes on. "Jasmine, allow me to find you more suitable company, my dear princess. These little rats won't do, you see."
And while Sora tells Jasmine to run, to which she complies, do I think: "No, and you're the picture perfect host." As another shiver of disgust runs through my spine at the memory of what, in the original Aladdin movie, Jafar was trying to get Jasmine to do after he became sultan. The others look at me worried and I whisper: "Let's just say, if his actions in the movie were to happen in our world – he'd be arrested for being a sick, twisted pervert, sultan or not."
The others cringe and shudder in the same amount of disgust I feel and dad whispers: "I really hope that poor girl will stay far away from that fre – bastard." Yet while the man falters halfway through and looks at me, do I just smile at him and say: "You're not Vernon – but you are right on both counts." The man smiles at me guiltily and we continue watching,
Sora then takes a stance with his Keyblade and Jafar says: "Ah, the boy who holds the key." More bandit Heartless appear and form a defensive line between the man and Sora, Jafar actually making his retreat, obviously with the intent to find Jasmine, as Sora, Donald and Goofy deal with the Heartless the man left behind. They do so, but end up quite exhausted.
"Let's head back to that house we found. I saw a safe point there." Goofy tells the group and on their last legs, Sora using a few potions to keep the team's strength up, do they manage to cleave through new Heartless that appear in the central plaza and get to the house. And just as they do, does the carpet fly out of the large open window. Donald follows it with his gaze as Sora steps up onto the safe point and the Duck says: "The carpet flew off toward the desert. Let's follow it, Sora." And while Sora quickly replaces his potion stock with hi-potions, does the group leave.
They manage to get out of the city and find the carpet waiting for them. And while dad looks intrigued – reminding me of Mr. Weasley talking about carpets like this with Percival before the World Cup – do the three actually climb aboard and does the carpet fly them quite deeply into the desert, flying for so long that nighttime falls when they arrive.
And the sight that really is quite unlike what I had expected and worrisome. While I had expected the carpet to fly Sora and the gang to the Cave of Wonders, does it arrive at a sandpit surrounded by many, many dunes. And the worrisome part of it all is that a man with black hair and a red fez on his hair, who wears a purple vest and tattered white pants seems to be drowning in the sand alongside a small monkey, who is also clothed.
Sora, Donald and Goofy (Take a shot, lol) instantly jump down to help the two, but get distracted by a whole array of bandit Heartless appearing around them, actually coming out of the sand that is all around the pit in which Aladdin and the monkey Abu are trying with all their might to keep themselves from sinking to their deaths. The three work their hardest to fight off the Heartless and seem to have beaten them.
Yet just when Sora tentatively climbs in and reaches out for Aladdin, who seems to have lost most of his own strength as well, does he get startled by Goofy who moans: "Gawrsh, not again!" And when Sora turns around does he spot even more bandit Heartless to have surrounded them all. Aladdin pulls himself free with his last strength and actually grabs an old looking lamp, which he rubs on as he yells: "Genie, get rid of these guys!"
"You can't be serious." Dad mumbles, but my face breaks into a grin as I wonder: "How perfect of a cast was Robin Williams really. Let's find out." As I remember the one thing Dudley and I actually had in common when it came to Movie Friday; we both loved Genie's crazy antics throughout all three of the Aladdin movies. And to the astonishment of my dad does the huge, blue being of infinite cosmic power appear out of the lamp with a shout of exhilaration.
"Wish number one, coming right up!" The Genie yells and instantly I think: "Perfect match. I can hardly tell the difference." Making me feel even more exhilarated and relieved as that means that the people working for Disney knew exactly what Genie was like when they based their movie around him and his friends and enemies. Yet while I'm curious to see the genie fight the Heartless, does he then just simply snap his fingers, causing for them to burst out and vanish.
"Well, that happened." I mutter to myself, feeling a little disappointed as I feel that the movie version would have made a much grander show of it all. I then shake my head, remembering that the one from the Aladdin movie isn't the real one and just watch as Sora, Donald, Goofy and Aladdin all take to the Genie, who wraps himself around them as they fall asleep.
The movie cuts to the next morning and it seems that Sora has explained himself to Aladdin in the meantime. "Just a quick note. That was only a short rest. I still don't quite get it, but for some reason, that part of the desert always looks like it's nighttime. We really were just sitting down and regaining our strength while I explained myself in the cut that just showed." My brother then tells us.
"I see … thanks Sora." Aladdin says as the camera slides over a bit of desert that is obviously covered in sunlight. The carpet flies over this and the group as Sora asks: "Aladdin, what're you doing out here?""Same old stuff. Hunting legendary treasure. Just paid a visit to the Cave of Wonders. I found that magic carpet, and this lamp. Legend has it that whoever holds the lamp can summon the –."
Yet here he gets interrupted and I think: "Time for round two. Wow me, Genie. Prove me you're better than Robin Williams.""Please, kid, leave the intros to a professional. The one and only GENIE OF THE LAMP! Rub-a-dub-dub the lamp and have your dearest wishes granted. Today's winner is … Aladdin! Congratulations!" And just by the way that the genie moves around and even throws confetti over Aladdin as he congratulates him, do I think:
"Better – but not quite." Donald then asks: "Any wish?" And Genie points a large finger in his face as he says: "Patience, my fine, feathered friend. Any three wishes!" Here I giggle as there are actually three genies on screen. And as Genie counts down, saying: "A one wish, a two wish, a three wish. Then I make like a banana and split." Do each of the three genies pop out of the screen with a bright purple light show each time.
"Now that's more like the genie I know." I think as Genie goes on with his spiel and says: "Our lucky winner made his first wish – and let me tell you, what a doozy that wish was –." Genie says, having his hand next to his face as if he's whispering this to Sora, even though his voice is loud enough for everyone to hear it, making me giggle even more.
Then I burst out laughing as two genies actually start dancing with their backs to each other as the voice sounds in chorus: "So he has two left." The two pop out again and the camera returns its focus to Aladdin, yet the voice continues to sound off the screen and asks: "So, master, what'll you have for Wish Number Two?" And at the end a huge stage light shines down on Aladdin, which makes me laugh even harder as they are still in the middle of the desert.
"Now there's the genie I know from the movie." I giggle, my family smiling at me as they see me laugh and my brother says: "Yeah, it's always fun having Genie around. He's a blast.""Literally, seeing the amount of times he already popped himself out of existence, it seems." Dad mutters and I almost lose my breath as I laugh at this. I then hear actual cheering coming from the screen as Aladdin seems to think his wish through before he asks:
"How about making me a fabulously wealthy prince?" And instantly I think: "And now we're back on schedule. Guess the company really did just look at various things that happened in this world, twisted the whole schedule of events around, added a few things of their own creation and then made the movie out of it all. Makes sense – and it did make them a crap-ton lot of money."
"Oooh! Money! Royalty! Fame! Why didn't I think of that? Okay, you asked for it! A hundred servants and a hundred camels loaded with gold! Just say the word and I'll deliver it in 30 minutes or less, or your meal's free. Hey, I'll even throw in a cappuccino." The genie ends, wrapping a huge arm around Aladdin while dad asks: "Where did that come from?"
Making me laugh even harder as I say: "That's actually a growing common thing among the Muggle world where you can make a call to a local restaurant or diner and they'll deliver the meal for you. It's a growing courtesy to make the meal free if the delivery boy can but fails to deliver the meal within a certain amount of time. Though where he gets the drink that doesn't exist yet in that timeline, I really don't know. That's just Genie, I guess."
"Wait, what do you mean, that timeline?" My brother asks and I say: "Well, unless I'm mistaken – which I might be seeing as how I still have reality and the Disney movies mixed up – this all takes place at the same time as the Founders. Or at least, the ways of this world are from around that era. They just behave, have laws and treat each other the way the people of our world did at around that era, especially in the middle eastern. A cappuccino is only 200 years old, not a thousand.
Then again, maybe I should just stop comparing these worlds to the movies and our own world; it's just getting confusing." I mumble in the end, but my brother says: "Of course not. It's fun. I learn more about what you liked growing up and we learn more about the world we were actually born in. And who knows, maybe we'll actually get to worlds that are perfect representations of the movies you remember watching? It's still possible."
I nod at this just as Aladdin declines the offer and says: "I think I'll put that on hold until we reach Agrabah." And Goofy asks: "Uh, why a prince?" And Aladdin answers: "You see, there's this girl in Agrabah named Jasmine. But she's a princess, and I'm … Aw, she could never fall for a guy like me." To which I mutter: "Hello, movie plot." Snorting as I say this.
The others turn to me, but I shake my head and say: "Later, I want to see how close to the movie all of this is. I'll tell the plot of the movie once Jafar's taken care of." My family nods and Donald and Goofy hum the words Princess and Jasmine before Sora gasps: "Oh, that's right! She's in trouble, Aladdin!" And instantly Aladdin snaps: "What? Well, c'mon, let's get going!" And the movie again focuses on the carpet as he says this.
The four of them hop on and the carpet rushes back to the city, the genie flying behind them. And while it's obvious that everyone's tense, does the genie moan in delight as he says: "Ah, fresh air! The great outdoors!""I guess you don't get out much, huh?" Sora asks and the genie replies: "Comes with the job. Phenomonal cosmic powers. Itty-bitty living space. It's always three wishes, then back to my portable prison. I'm lucky to see the light of day every century or two…"
"Not quite the same as the way Robin Williams did it in the movie, but then again, when the movie genie gave this explanation, Jasmine was still – sort of – safe from Jafar's crazy perverted desires. Still, he does make me feel for him just as much as Williams did." I think to myself and then smile widely as Aladdin proves himself and asks:
"Say, Genie, what if I used my last wish to free you from the lamp? What do you think?" And while part of me thinks: "Oh please don't let this Aladdin go back on his word the same stupid way the movie version did!" Does Genie ask Aladdin in shocked surprise: "You'd do that?" And Aladdin solemnly tells him: "Genie, it's a promise. After we help Jasmine." And this makes me groan as I think: "Great, a hurdle. Just like in the movie."
But my brother smiles at me and while the movie actually just continues, showing the group – minus Genie who seems to have retreated into the Lamp and carpet who has flown back to Aladdin's place – taking a different route to get to Aladdin's home as well, does he say: "Just wait. You'll be pleasantly surprised." Which makes me feel a little better as we watch the group arrive.
"So Jafar is after Jasmine and this Keyhole." Aladdin mumbles in concern as he uses the large open window to scurry the town, obviously trying to find a way into the back of the city where I'm sure they'll find the Princess and perhaps even Jafar. "Keyhole, eh? I could swear I've about that somewhere before …" Genie mumbles thoughtfully.
Yet when Donald asks: "Really? Where?" Does the Genie make me grimace as he says: "Now, where was it? It's only been 200 years …""How old is this guy?" Dad suddenly asks and I shake my head as I say: "No one knows. His age is never mentioned in the movie. Though there is one theory about all this – thanks to some of the references that are shown in the movie – that is – quite bizarre."
"What's that?" My brother asks and I explain: "Remember the cappuccino? There are a dozen or so more references like that in the movie, but the way that the town looks makes you think this all took place long before those objects and inventions actually became a thing. So some people suggest that this doesn't take place in the past – but the future, after an apocalypse ruins all of modern day technology and throws humanity back in behavior and whatnot."
The group looks at me shocked and I say: "Like I said, bizarre.""Well, anyway, we've got to stop Jafar before it's too late!" Sora states strongly and Aladdin nods as he says: "Right, follow me. I spotted a way into the Palace gate plaza." The group jumps out of the window and land on a large cover that hangs over some of the shops in the central plaza. They jump to another and then head into a doorway that, unlike the others in this wall, is actually open.
This allows them to enter a new plaza from the roof of one of the lower buildings and, to my concern, do they spot Jasmine and Jafar near the huge doors that lead into the Palace. The group jumps down from the roof and land in the plaza just as Jafar speaks: "Setting your sights a little high, aren't you boy? Back to your hole, street rat. I will not allow you to trouble the princess any more."
At this Aladdin calls out Jasmine's name, but the young woman only apologizes to him as Jafar blocks her from sight with his arm. Aladdin pulls the lamp out behind his back and rubs it as he whispers: "Genie, help Jasmine. Please!" And the girl gets pulled up in the air, held in Genie's hands as if she were but an infant as the Genie says:
"One wish left! You're making this really easy, you know." But then Jafar actually snickers and says: "So sorry, boy. I'm afraid your second wish has been denied." And to both my and Aladdin's shock does he find his hand empty, the parrot from before now flying over to Jafar with the lamp in his talons. And what's worse does Genie seem to accept this, dissipating and dropping Jasmine.
The princess falls into one of the pots set around the plaza, which actually sprouts a pair of legs right after as Jafar gloats: "And now, I bid you all farewell. Attack!" And as the man vanishes out of existence, do two more pots that are set behind Sora and Aladdin break, revealing a metallic grey looking head and tail that get connected through all of the other pots set around the plaza.
At first Sora and Aladdin try to attack all of the pots that are in between the head and tail, but breaking these only grants them a lot of Munny as well as a few items, just like the ones they've been getting from the few chests they have been opening all throughout the town. "Sora, she's in either the head or tail. We need to beat those to free her!" Aladdin says and only then do I realize that her voice calling out for help does sound like it's coming from either of the two.
Yet while Sora and Aladdin tackle the head, do Donald and Goofy to try attack the tail, which proves to be a mistake as one of the feelers that is on the end of the tail strikes Donald directly and Goofy shouts: "He's been poisoned!""Take him to my home! The safe point will heal him up!""What about the Heartless?" Goofy asks, now having a moaning Donald hung over his shoulder and Sora yells: "We've got it covered! Thunder!" And a couple of strikes seem to keep the monster at bay.
"Be careful! I'll be back soon!" Goofy yells at the two before climbing up the pole in the central plaza. "Sora, that thing's almost out of health, right?" Aladdin asks desperately and Sora answers: "Sure does look that way. Let's just keep it busy until Goofy comes back." And this proves to be a winning strategy as a minute later Goofy comes spinning back onto the screen, his shield continuously hitting the Heartless and taking it the last of its strength.
Yet the victory is short-lived as, while Aladdin searches among the rubble that is the defeated Heartless, Jafar's voice is heard ringing through the plaza, laughing harshly. "To the desert! Come on, let's move!" Aladdin yells and Sora says: "I'll meet you there. I'm going to check on Donald." Aladdin nods and the two part, Goofy going along with Sora.
The two find their friend in Aladdin's home, but no amount of shaking seems wake their unconscious feathery friend. "Oh no, I think Jafar may have put a spell on those feelers that hit Donald. I don't think he'll wake up unless we beat him." Goofy moans in concern and Sora frowns: "Let's get going then. Jafar's really got a lot to answer for now." And the two angrily storm out of the place.
"I really don't like this. You don't have Genie and now Donald's out too? I know you can handle this, but I'm still quite glad that you at least have Aladdin with you." I tell my brother, who gives me an understanding smile as the movie shows the two of them meeting with Aladdin just before it shocks me as they encounter a whole kind of Heartless.
Or at least one that looks different from the usual gigantic one that I've seen Sora tackle every so often. "A Fat Bandit. They're seriously annoying, because they have the same weakness and immunity as the Large Bodies, except they also – have that." My brother winces as the huge Heartless actually breaths fire, turning his body and continuously hitting Sora even as he tries to evade the attack.
Yet this allows Aladdin and Goofy to have free range on the huge monster's back and they make quick work of him, throwing Sora a potion afterwards before they leave the city all-together. And after a quick flight on the carpet, do they get evidence of how powerful Jafar really is. The tigerhead that is the entrance to the Cave of Wonders sprouts out of the sand, yet something seems wrong.
While the mouth is open, do I get the strange feeling that going inside would be a mistake and then I spot it. While the eyes of the tiger, in the movie, were yellow, do they seem to glow with some strange purple mist and Goofy yells: "It's been corrupted! Jafar must have given the Heartless the power to control it. We need to attack the eyes so we can rid them of the dark power Jafar wields."
And while the tiger spits out several bandit Heartless, while it tries to headbutt the group several times and shakes its head wildly, do Sora and Aladdin manage to jump onto the bit of sand that is situated under each of the eyes, both of them tackling one and helping to keep the other onto the head, while Goofy keeps the other Heartless at bay. It takes them a lot of work, but they manage to break the spell, making the eyes shine yellow, just like I remember.
For the record, I'm going to skip the whole tracking through the cave as that is just gameplay without much meaning. Just imagine the movie still running through all that while – well, this happens. Title says all.
"Alright, let's head inside!" Aladdin yells and the trio rush through the open mouth and down the huge staircase that twists and turns as it heads downwards into the cave itself. "Well now, looks like I got here just in time." A smooth, yet also strangely familiar – and at the same time unfamiliar – voice suddenly says and we turn to the door leading to the special room, me only shortly noticing that the movie is actually still going.
"Oh, hey Lea. We don't really have any messages for you. What are you doing here?" Dad asks, but something about the man in front of the door feels off and in a second I realize why. My heart's not beating like mad, I don't feel like blushing or showing off my gorgeous dress and several aspects of the man's looks don't look like the ones that I fell for.
This angers me and I glare furiously as the fake-Lea smiles, actually trying to look as dashing as Lea does when he smiles – and says: "Just thought I'd come spend sometime with my Firefly. Got it memorized?" And even the way he says that catchphrase sounds off. And so, when the man starts to approach us, do I stand up, summon my Keyblade and snarl:
"Who are you? What are you doing here? Why do you look like my mate?" Startling everyone. But then the man smirks and says: "Wow, you know how to pass a test quickly." Which just makes me growl at him, but then my brother asks: "What do you mean, Axel?" I turn from the imposter to the slightly older boy and Riku says: "That's Axel; Lea's Nobody." And instantly I calm down.
"That's right. And when I say test, I mean a test given to you by Lady Destiny. She heard about what you will soon be going through, your need to have your mate close as every topic of conversation or thought will make you think of him, and she was worried that you and him might not be ready for such a stage yet. So she asked yours truly to see how close you two have really gotten.
And I got to say, the fact that you can tell us apart when we look so much alike. I'm impressed." Yet I scoff and say: "Please, you don't look half as much alike as you might think. Your voice is two octaves lower than his, you're two inches taller, yet your form is slightly wider, you move your arms way more, your hair sticks out to the back way more than his does, your eyes are way sharper in their green coloring and those upside down tears are a dead giveaway."
By now my family is gaping and gawking at me and Axel is just blinking before he says: "I stand thoroughly corrected." And to my amusement does he actually run a hand through his hair, grabbing a few of the strands and tugging at them, as if trying to measure their length. I shake my head at this and then turn back to the movie, only to grimace as it shows an unpleasant view.
Jafar, Genie and Jasmine deep within the cave, Jasmine unconscious in the center and the Genie floating miserably with his back to the two. Jafar pulls out the lamp and demands: "My first wish, Genie! Show me the Keyhole!" Genie sighs in guilt and snaps his fingers, actually causing for the back wall to break apart and for a pair of pillars and a door shaped like many Keyholes, with one black one in the center, to appear.
Jafar starts to laugh and the camera pans out before focusing back on Sora and the group, who seem to have found themselves in what appears to be an underwater cavern. The three of them swim their way out and head for a pair of stairs that lead back up, moving through a few more rooms that are crammed to the brim with Heartless which they ignore and avoid, even the ones that try to either attack them or block their path to the chamber Jafar is in.
They reach one room without Heartless that, luckily enough, also has a safe point. The team quickly uses this to get their health back and after a quick check to make sure that everyone has their gear, accessories and other items – such as Hi-potions and ethers – ready and set, do they head into the chamber. Yet it's not just Jafar that they meet there and the movie seems to go back in time just a few minutes or so even.
"That boy again?" Maleficent asks as she and Jafar stand in front of the Keyhole, Jasmine still unconscious and lying down next to Jafar. "He's more persistent than I expected. Why not explain the situation to that boy Riku? Doing so may actually prove useful to our –." Yet at this point he gets interrupted by Sora, Aladdin and Goofy barging into the room.
Sora, however, doesn't focus on Jafar turning to him or Jasmine lying unconscious as he asks: "Wait a second. Are you Maleficent?" And instead of answering does the evil fairy vanish from sight just like Jafar did after capturing Jasmine in the pots. "Jafar, let Jasmine go!" Aladdin demands of the vizier, who scoffs and retorts: "Not a chance. You see, she's a princess – one of seven who somehow hold the key to opening the door."
I'm going to derive from the canon-scene here for just a bit. Sorry, not sorry.
"Open?" Sora asks and Goofy mumbles: "The door?" But Jafar, instead of answering, threatens them: "But you fools won't live to see what lies beyond it. Genie! My second wish. Crush them!" This shocks me and I think: "Will he?" And while Aladdin tries to plead with his friend, does the blue being of power moan: "Sorry, Al. The one with the lamp calls the shots. I don't have a choice." Making me grimace in great concern.
Jafar then casts a spell that seems to create a blockade between them and the Keyhole, blocking the group from reaching either it or Jasmine. "Sora, if we beat Jafar, Genie won't have to attack us anymore." Aladdin whispers to Sora, who nods and says: "Leave it to me. Just keep Genie busy." And while I grimace at this, do I think: "A powerful vizier or an almighty genie. Yeah, I prefer Sora attacking Jafar. He has more of a chance against him."
And Jafar himself proves this as well – and proves himself a right coward – as he just floats from one of the raised platforms that is located in the four corners of the room to another and only attacks Sora and the others with a beam from his staff every so often, leaving the rest of the fight to Genie, who obviously tries to ignore the orders by semi-purposely missing his targets and shouting out warnings before he attacks.
The vizier also sets his staff aflame a few times and strikes with it, but Sora manages to evade those attacks as well as the small mini-tornados that Jafar summons to the center of the field by making sure to be on the platforms when the vizier does this. And finally, after a battle that actually took the better part of half an hour, does Sora use his Sonic Strike to attack Jafar so rapidly, the evil wizard has no time to transport himself elsewhere.
The vizier starts to float in the center of the room, screams and moans of pain escaping his throat and his whole form becoming one great black shadow with red bits of thunder coursing through him as Sora, Goofy and Aladdin rush for Jasmine, able to reach her and proving that the invisible wall that Jafar conjured is no more.
Yet when they do, does Jafar reappear, somehow looking as if he is completely back to full health and still with the lamp in his possession as he demands: "Genie! My final wish! I want you to make me an all-powerful genie!" Yet while this makes me want to smirk and think: "He lost." Do I look confused when Genie seems to hesitate, covering his eyes as he shoots the man with a blast of magic.
The floor underneath where the man is floating caves in and a huge underground tunnel, this one surrounded by lava that seems to flow out of several open doorways that are on various levels of height all around the room, is shown to be underneath the battlefield. Sora turns from this and checks on Jasmine, noticing that she's still out cold before he and his friends jump down.
They end up on a square shaped platform that is surrounded by a trench filled with the lava that is still flowing in from multiple doorways and while they seem to search for Jafar, does he then emerge from the lava, his entire look now completely different. Looking somewhat like the genie, but then slimmer, more muscular and with red skin and bright yellow eyes, the former vizier smirks down at his foes.
And while I grimace as I realize that the Disney company must have made up a few rules in regards to the whole being a Genie thing to make the whole movie more kid-friendly, do I then smile as Iago the parrot flies by, Jafar's lamp in his talons and Aladdin yells: "The lamp! Get Jafar's Lamp!" And all three of them work their hardest to continuously attack Iago in their effort to make him drop it.
Yet Jafar makes this harder and harder for them, using his magic to make the platform divide itself over several squares that either ascend or descend, sometimes making it so that Iago flies too high for Sora to reach, but other times giving Sora and the others platforms to hide behind when he pulls up a huge rock and hurls it at them, making the rock explode onto the platform and miss them.
Aladdin then sends a short look at Sora and the boy nods, dashing for the platform above which Iago is flying, even though the parrot is much too high for Sora to reach. Yet then Aladdin throws his sword and the weapon strikes Iago hard enough he screams out and drops the lamp in pain. "Okay, Jafar! Back to your lamp!" Sora yells, holding the lamp up with the opening tip aimed at the genie.
A red fiery tornado erupts from the lamp tip and sucks at Jafar's tail, which represents his former legs, the genie screaming and yelling as he gets sucked in and in a last-ditch effort he tries to grab Iago, who tries to make a run for it. Yet while he manages to grab the bird, do they both get sucked in, Sora's whole body trembling with the effort to hold onto the lamp until they're both inside.
"Hey Sora, was it me or did your fire and ice spells seem to grow more powerful during our first fight with Jafar?" Goofy asks and Sora shrugs as he says: "I – I don't know about the ice one, I'll check that out later, but I definitely felt as if my fire power was getting a boost from all this lava that's around us. Still, we better get back up and check on Jasmine."
And the movie seems to agree as it turns black and then reopens with a shot of Jasmine, who has finally regained consciousness and is peeking over the edge of the platform she's on. Yet as this happens, do I – from the corner of my eye – notice my brother again crawling into Riku's lap. And a second later it gets explained why as Jasmine turns around and gasps, only for the screen to suddenly turn black yet again.
"Maleficent made a deal with me. If – if I helped her get the – the princesses she desired to her castle – she'd help me find Kairi. I – I know I didn't show it back in Traverse Town, but the knowledge that Kairi wasn't with Sora when I found him did really worry me, even if my mind was more focused on just wowing him and making him fall for me and later how angry I was to see that plan fail."
Riku mumbles as this happens, but then I get an idea and turn to him. "You're like Quirrell – just – better. Voldemort convinced Quirrell to work for him, the same way Maleficent convinced you to work for her. But you, in the end, saw through her tricks, whereas Quirrell – well, he paid for his mistakes. That makes you the better person, Riku."
The boy smiles at me, sheer gratitude showing in his eyes and dad nods before we focus back on the movie, which has Goofy let out a confused sound and he says: "Hey look, Iago dropped something when he was trying to get away. HEY! It's a rapport written by that Ansem fellah that Leon and the others mentioned!" Sora gasps at this and says: "Put it away. We'll read it later."
The dog does as told and the three of them fly back up. Yet Aladdin instantly notices that his princess is missing and starts looking around for her and starts calling out to her, while Sora moves over to the Keyhole in the back, his Keyblade already in hand and the edges of the Keyhole starting to light up as he gets closer. He aims the tip of the Jungle King at the hole and the same thing as before happens for a third time in a row.
The Keyhole closes itself up, the sound of a lock falling into place is heard and a mountain of gold coins starts to rise up from the bottom of the door, covering the Keyhole completely as well as the entire doorframe before turning into the same sturdy, stone material as the rest of the back wall. Yet to my shock does this seem to be the wrong thing to do as suddenly the cave starts to tremble.
"That place is going to sink into the ground, just like in the movie if you were to touch any kind of treasure outside of the lamp!" I shriek in fright and to my horror, while Goofy warns the others: "Whoa, we'd better get out of here!" Does he need Sora's help to get Aladdin, who is still screaming Jasmine's name, onto the carpet and out of the cave.
Goofy then yells: "You can't save Jasmine if you get caved in yourself! Get us out of here, Aladdin!" And the street rat reluctantly takes control of the carpet, flying it out of the cave with Sora using his Keyblade and his elemental attacks – of which the fire and blizzard power do seem to have gained a boost – to avoid incoming rocks and other attacks.
They fly out of the tiger's mouth, the huge sandy being sinking itself into the dune it was build into and disappearing from view entirely while the carpet flies off into the horizon. The screen turns black and when it regains itself, does it show Sora, Donald, Goofy, Aladdin and the Genie back in Aladdin's home, Donald once more awake and Aladdin sitting on the floor with his head down.
"So, Jasmine's no longer in Agrabah. Sora, let's go find her." But while the man had gotten up and looked determined, does Sora look down and mumble: "Sorry. I can't take you with me." Making me frown and making Aladdin ask him why not. Goofy mutters: "I sure wish we could …" But Donald objects: "But we can't. If we take him to another world, we would be …" And while he leaves the sentence hanging, does Goofy make me snort as he says:
"Muh – mudd –." And Donald corrects him: "Meddling!" Yet to this I turn to my brother and he says: "One, I have the Keyblade, so it's my job to keep the balance between Light and Dark in the various worlds. Two, they didn't even find me in my own world, but in Traverse Town. Three, they weren't even able to bring me back to my own world, because it had been swallowed."
"Makes sense." I think as I nod at him and then Sora strongly states: "Aladdin, we'll find Jasmine. I promise." Yet Genie seems to have different ideas as he slaps the man, who has gone back to sitting down again, on the back and says: "Uh, earth to Al. Hello? You still have one wish left. Look, just say the word. Ask me to find Jasmine for you."
At this I grimace and think: "Just like in the movie. Williams offered to make Aladdin a prince again so he could marry Jasmine and now Genie is willing to give up his own freedom to get his friend his one true love back. I swear, both versions are way too selfless." And while I know that the others would look at me weird if I said this, do I just smile and keep my mouth shut.
And then Aladdin proves that Disney really did do right by his character as, just like in the end of the movie, he says: "I … I wish … for your freedom, Genie." And while the Genie exclaims the hero's name in shock, does a magical tornado, this one pink instead of looking like fire, starts to float around the genie as well, changing his tail into a pair of legs and taking the bracelet-cuffs off his arms.
The genie watches it all happen with amazement and shock clear on his face and then Aladdin goes on: "A deal's a deal, Genie. Now you can go anywhere you want. You're your own master." He then hesitates and says: "But, if you can, it'd be great if you could go along with them and help Sora find Jasmine." The Genie turns his back on this and says:
"Sorry, Al. I'm done taking orders from others." This makes dad look at the movie weirdly, but I am smiling like a loon as I can already see exactly what is about to happen. And Genie proves me right as he turns around and says: "But … A favor, now that's entirely different. I guess I could give that a try. After all, we're pals, right Al?"
The man sighs his friend's name, proving how desperate he is for some good news and Genie happily cheers him up as he says: "Just leave it to me!" And the whole scene ends with Aladdin smiling, messing his own hair up with a hand and the camera again closing in on his face in the shape of a Keyhole once again. "Got to say, there were definitely aspects of the movie here and there, but – I kind of liked this better than the movie."
I think to myself, only to grimace as the next scene shows Hades, Riku and Maleficent back in the same room that the two bad guys were shown in before. "That smarmy vizier could've had 'em – if someone had stuck around to give him a hand." To which I roll my eyes and Riku retorts: "Hey, I did my part. I brought the princess, didn't I?"
And while I think: "Yeah Hades, think again if you think you can turn Riku against Sora – for now, it seems." And while this thought worries as I remember what my brother told his mate on the first day we all arrived here at the Haven, does Maleficent interrupt the two and say: "Jafar was beyond help, consumed by his own hatred. One should be aware of letting it burn too fiercely."
And while I can't help but think: "Wow, lame way to put a pun in a warning there, you damned witch." Does Hades actually seem to take offense as he says: "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lighten up. I'm as cool as they come, okay? By the way, kid, have we got something special for you." This draws Riku's attention and my own as well and Maleficent asks him:
"We had a deal, yes? You help us, and we grant you your wish …" And as she says this, does the camera refocus itself on the slab in between the three, the same pentagram lighting up and showing Kairi's form, the girl apparently lying on her back and fast asleep. Riku exclaims her name and Maleficent instantly tells him: "Go to her. Your vessel is waiting."
This both intrigues and worries me and I sigh as the camera shows Captain Hook walking into the room, the man twirling his mustache with his good hand as he warns Riku: "Just remember, this is no pleasure cruise. It won't be a pleasant voyage." And then Riku proves that what I said about him and Quirrell earlier was right as he asks Maleficent in suspicion:
"Why are you doing all this for me? What's the catch?""One I should have seen coming from a mile away." My brother's mate growls to himself and my brother softly pecks his cheek to comfort him as Maleficent tells Riku: "Catch? What's the catch? Silly boy. You're like a son to me. I only want you to be happy." And I personally shiver in disgust at how she tries to caress his cheek.
Riku himself also steps away, snapping: "I seriously doubt that." To which the evil fairy retorts: "Believe what you wish. But lest we forget, I kept my end of the bargain." And Riku, obviously with great reluctance, turns away from her and leaves the room with Hook in tow, the camera focusing on Maleficent and the Heartless symbol etched in the wall behind her.
The movie then focuses back on Agrabah and Genie hands Sora a small bit of gold metal as he says: "Here Sora, take this. It used to be part of my old lamp. Just rub it and I'll – oh, that was interesting." The Genie interrupts himself as Sora just simply seems to merge the bit of lamp with the butterfly Keychain hanging off the end of his weapon.
"Here. Take this with you." Aladdin says, actually handing Sora a miniature version of the same lamp, but then one dangling off a chain. Sora unclasps the butterfly and attaches the one with the lamp and instantly his Keyblade changes, the wood turning to gold and the teeth changing to form one half of the number three. Parts of the blade also turn bronze and so does the guard around the handle.
Sora, Donald and Goofy then also notice their hands and feet lighting up again, even though Goofy's feet remain bare of this and Goofy says: "Wow, it looks like our trinity powers have leveled up again." Which confuses Aladdin, but he seems to just let it slide and asks: "Sora, please find Jasmine for me." After which the trio leaves the world.
"So, how much was different?" My brother asks and I fall back into my seat as I say: "The entire thing! There were small aspects here and there that sounded like the movie, but the adventure was nothing like it. In the movie Aladdin starts off as a streetrat, hated, chased and mocked by all until he meets Jasmine, who is sick of life at the castle, because of a law that is forcing her to marry.
She escapes the castle and meets Aladdin, only for Jafar's guards to find and arrest him. She tries to get him free, but Jafar needs him to enter the Cave of Wonders and get the lamp, so he lies to Jasmine and tells her that Aladdin has already been punished and even beheaded. This breaks Jasmine's heart and she cries with her father, who is the sultan, but Jafar manages to sweet talk him.
In the mean time does he take Aladdin out of the prison and over to the cave, tricking him into believing that Aladdin will be rewarded with enough jewels to marry Jasmine if he finds the lamp for Jafar, but Abu accidentally tries to take another bit of treasure. This, instead of the Keyhole being closed, causes for the cave to collapse upon itself.
And while Jafar tries to take the lamp from Aladdin and then kill him, does Abu stop Jafar and take the lamp back before the both of them get trapped within the cave. Aladdin then releases and befriends the Genie and tricks him into using his first wish to get them out of there. Genie does so and accepts that he's been tricked and then explains about the powers and the lamp.
He and Aladdin then make the deal that Aladdin will use his third wish to free Genie and then Aladdin makes the same wish he did here; to become a prince. Genie grants it, creates an entire parade to introduce the new Prince Ali and then Aladdin tries to impress the sultan, succeeds, impress Jafar, sort of fails and then later Jasmine – and fails spectacularly.
He tries again later that night, but Jasmine still doesn't care for him because he behaves like every other prince that she rejected and because she, at first, doesn't realize that he's Aladdin. Aladdin does, however, convince her to take a ride on the carpet with him – which in the movie is a whole romantic song that is utterly beautiful – and then they end up on some Chinese roof during a fire works show.
Jasmine then tricks Aladdin into revealing himself, only for Aladdin to save himself by building more lies around the whole I'm an actual prince persona and the two fall for each other. They even share a kiss before Jafar tries to get rid of Aladdin by having his guards cuff him and throw him into the sea. Instead, Aladdin, half-conscious, uses his second wish to have Genie save him.
They get back to the palace where Jafar has used his staff to hypnotize – oh, and here's where it gets gross – the sultan to make him marry Jasmine off to Jafar. Yeah, I know, juck. Luckily enough, Aladdin breaks Jafar's spell and the Sultan tries to have him arrested, only for Jafar to spot the lamp and realize who Ali actually is. He escapes and orders Iago to take the lamp.
Iago manages this because Aladdin is lax with keeping it safe in his need to tell Jasmine the truth, yet before he can do so, does Jafar use his first wish to become sultan and then, after Jasmine refuses to bow to him, he uses his second one to increase his magical power. He then tries to get rid of Aladdin by sending him really, really far away, but because Aladdin has carpet – that fails.
Yet while Aladdin flies back from where he was sent to, Jafar basically changes Agrabah and the palace into his own – I'm just going to call it as I remember it – demonic little playhouse. The sultan is now a jester puppet for Iago to control and make fun of and Jasmine is his personal slave and servant. Yeah, like I said, sick. And it get even sicker.""How could it possible get sicker than that. That's basically my cousin's Bella dream come true."
Dad asks me looking grossed out and while I work my hardest to suppress shudders of my own personal disgust, do I say: "Jafar tries to, first through words and later the Genie, get Jasmine to fall for him. And I mean – and I can't believe I'm quoting this – for princess Jasmine to fall desperately in love with him. Ugh, I need a drink." And to my surprise does Axel move to the door, pulling a glass of water from what I can only presume is a table on the other side.
"That should do it. Pretty amazing that you managed to quote that, too. I would have gagged halfway through if that were me." The Nobody says and my family nods in agreement. "Yeah, it gets worse. Jasmine spots Aladdin and realizes he needs a distraction so that Jafar won't notice him and – she pretends that the wish was actually granted."
And instantly after saying this, do I down the glass in a single gulp, shuddering afterwards at both the cold of the water and the disgust that runs through me as I remember that scene. "Heck, she even – she kisses him, just to make sure he doesn't see Aladdin reach for the Genie's lamp, but then Jafar still spots Aladdin in the reflection that comes off of her golden crown and starts to attack him.
All four of them, Jasmine, Aladdin, Abu and Carpet, then try to get the lamp, but Jafar uses his magic to lock Jasmine up in an hourglass, turn Abu into a toy monkey and turn carpet into a ball of yarn. Aladdin manages to fight him off for the most part, but then inspires Jafar to turn himself into a snake. And sorry, Sora, but when it comes to that scene and your fights with Jafar, that one wins it. And by quite the landslide."
And while I think to myself: "Kind of wish I could have been that cool-looking when I faced off against the Basilisk." Do I also feel glad that there is still some time left before my family finds out that I faced the gigantic beast. "Let me draw the picture for you guys here. Jafar has turned himself into this giant cobra, the size of a Basilisk, which is the King of Snakes and Aladdin still manages to evade his every attack and strike at him several times.
Yet then, when Jafar does have him cornered, has him wrapped up in his coils and is about to squeeze him to death, Aladdin uses his quick wit, talks in on Jafar's ego and convinces him to have Genie turn him into a genie as well. Except this is all taking place inside the palace and instead of a huge fight to get the lamp from Iago it appears right in front of Aladdin, who instantly uses it.
And then he closes it all off by using that brilliant line from Genie. Pheno –." Yet then suddenly the voice of Lady Destiny says: "To quote our favorite blue mass of wonder, leave it to the professionals." And to my utter delight does another screen fall over the one showing the movie of Sora. A new movie starts to play and instantly I recognize it.
Jafar, in genie form, grows so large he breaks the roof of the palace as he yells: "The absolute POWER!" And while Jasmine asks of Aladdin what he's done and he assures her to trust him, does he spot the lamp taking form. He rushes for it as Jafar yells: "The universe is mine to command; to control!" And the street rat yells: "Not so fast, Jafar! Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Huh?" Jafar asks, obviously shocked and Aladdin shouts: "You want to be a genie, you've got it!" "What?" Jafar asks, watching in shock as the same bracelet-cuffs appear around his wrists as the ones that were around the blue genie's and then Aladdin yells: "Everything that goes with it!" And he holds up the lamp, just as the magic of it starts to suck Jafar in.
The huge being yells in denial at this and grabs Iago just as the parrot tries to make a run for it. And while all this happens, does Aladdin happily state: "Phenomonal cosmic power!" And as the two get sucked in and a few red feathers get spewed out, does Aladdin squeak out: "Itty-bitty living space." Making us all laugh as the screen rolls itself back up again.
"Yeah, that was better." Sora admits and I finish: "Yeah, so anyway, after that genie offers Aladdin to turn him back into a prince as that was one of the things Jafar undid after he became sultan, but instead of that does Aladdin prove himself a man of his word and does he free the genie, who actually makes an entire show of being free again. Oh, I love that scene. Mind if I kiss the monkey? Oh, hairball." "Wait, Genie – in his exhileration over being free – kissed Abu?"
"And I thought Jafar wanting to kiss Jasmine was gross." Axel mutters and I yell: "Not on the lips, for goodness sake." Making the others laugh. I shrug and say: "So yeah, this world definitely showed some aspects that make me understand how the Disney company got up with the story for the Aladdin movie, but –." And Riku words it perfectly:
"I guess because Sora was in it, they had to change stuff around to make it a movie where he wasn't needed. And for that they had to improve upon all of the characters, both the good ones like Aladdin and the Genie and the bad ones like Jafar and how sick he is." I nod and dad asks: "Please tell me the next world doesn't have such a sick twisted mind."
Sora seems to think on this and says: "Actually, we first went back to the worlds we had already gone through, to unlock new trinities and get whatever came out of them. We also found one of the missing pages of that book in the Cave of Wonders and decided to go and return it. After that – we went to a world – that's actually no longer a world now. It's weird, you'll see." And this really intrigues me.
That'll be fun.
And as for why I had Sora recap that whole thing with the trinity and the page thing. Sorry, but I'm not going to cover the whole Pooh story book until the end, just before Sora and co head for Hollow Bastion for the first time. You'll also probably find more spots like Jessica getting tested like she was while the movie showed the gang traversing through the Cave of Wonders in future chapters like Atlantica and Halloween Town.
Let's face it, that's just gameplay footage without any real dialogue and the only real development is the gameplay – or in this case movie – characters growing levels. I just didn't feel like putting that into the story and I do have my poll that I want to properly work up to. Plus, I really wanted to start sending characters other than Lea, James and the girls to the Haven.
So yeah, expect characters that I have chosen as group members for my poll to pop up every chapter or so. They won't be there for long, I'll write them leaving at the start of the following chapter, but they will each have a role to play in regards to Jessica and the others; whether that be testing the strength of Jessica's bond with Lea or other stuff that comes to my mind. Needless to say, this story ain't ending anytime soon.
And I love that,
Venquine1990
